Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Its been a while since I've posted. I blame it on the holiday, the baby, the fact that the husband took last week off from work. But really its because I'm a procrastinator and I'm lazy. I create all sorts of entries in my head but the thought of getting them out of there and onto a computer screen is daunting. This is why I was such a terrible student in High School and College. I knew what I wanted to do, what I wanted to write but I just couldn't get it out of my head. By the time I took up a pen or sat in front of a typewriter (yep, I did most of my COLLEGE papers on a typewriter. I was afraid of computers then. Stupid, stupid, stupid.) I couldn't keep up with the deluge of thoughts coming from my brain. So, even though I was very clear of thought, I was a mess on paper. I know I should get one of those mini tape recorders to record my thoughts and then transfer them to paper or computer, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. They say procrastination is a sign of perfectionism (is that even a word? It is now.), that most people who are procrastinators are so fearful of getting it wrong. So they put it off and put it off until they are forced to do it NOW. Yeah, I'm going with that. I'm not lazy. I'm a perfectionist. My family is so proud.

_______________________________________________________________

The child got her first teeth recently. One last week and one this week. I didn't think there could be anything as sharp as puppy teeth - boy, was I wrong. She's figuring out what she can do with them, like chew on her spoon when I'm trying to feed her. As long as she doesn't try out those new chompers when she's nursing, we'll be okay. I have to say, she came through this new teeth thing pretty well - very little pain (as far as I know, she still can't talk - slacker.) and very little fussing. When she seemed a little cranky we decided to skip the Tylenol and went straight to the Tequila. It seemed to work well. Just kidding. I wanted an excuse to post this picture. She'll hate me when she's old enough to see this blog, but that's what being a parent is all about. To make her happy I'll post another one.Pretty soon I'll be taking the dog's chew toys out of Julia's mouth. Oh what fun we'll have then.

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Thoughts while watching "The Biggest Loser" and finding it disturbing to think Matt is sorta cute for an overly emotional former wrestler...

I no longer think the child sounds like a monkey at dinner time (except when she's screaming, then she sounds like a Howler Monkey). Now I believe she sounds like Frankenstein when she wants her food shoved in her mouth faster than I can scoop it out of the bowl. "Huh, HUHHH, Hnnnn, Huh! Mmmmm, Hnnn."

What criteria do you have to meet to become a photographer at one of those chain family photo places in the mall? There are no words to accurately convey how I feel about this.

Am I the only one psyched up for the National Dog Show on Thanksgiving Day? Probably, huh?

I love Starbuck's new Gingerbread Latte. Loooove it.

Why does my husband insist on reading aloud to me from whatever it is he's reading and finds interesting at that moment when clearly I'm completely engrossed in whatever I'm reading at that moment?

Mmmmm... Red meat. Fleshy, oozing, melt in your mouth beef. It's not just what's for dinner. It also pisses off the hard-core vegetarians. That makes me happy.

I don't care what the hubby says, yes I do enjoy treating my daughter like a little doll that I can play dress-up with. And I'm not ashamed of that.

Way to go, Gov. Mitt, I'm sure the alcohol distributors will be happy to contribute to your presidential campaign now.

The guy who plays Dr. House is crazy sexy-ugly. Scratch that, he's just sexy. Is there a female equivalent for sexy-ugly?

Friday, November 18, 2005

The child turned 7 months yesterday. I have to say I am really enjoying this age, she's a lot of fun. Julia is now up on her hands and knees rocking back and forth. She'll be crawling any day now (goodbye couch, you've always been there for me. I'll sit with you again one day). She's got a mega-watt smile and she charms everyone she meets - as long as they don't try to hold her! She rolls like crazy and usually ends up under the couch (I'll try to post a photo of that when I have a change to upload it). Apparently there was a skit on SNL about the baby Swiffer, but we just call it fleecy pajamas. No need to vacum under the couch, let the kid roll and do all the work for you!She's a champion sleeper finally - can you hear the Hallelujiah Chorus? I can, every time I get a full night sleep. And she's a fantastic eater. If you put food in front of her it will disappear in no time flat. If she could say "More!" she would, but for now she'll just have to grunt like a hungry monkey (no lie, she sounds like a monkey). I wonder where she gets that insatiable appetite? Hmmm. She now eats applesauce, bananas, pears (her favorite), squash, sweet potatos, green beans, peas, mangos (her second favorite), carrots, mashed potatos, cereal (she loves her oatmeal), yogurt, cheerios and toast. The dogs were very happy when we started with the cheerios since more end up on the floor than in her mouth. We tried pureed turkey the other day (gotta get her ready for Thanksgiving) and I thought for sure she would hate it. After the first bite there was a great sucking noise and I was left with an empty bowl and a grunting monkey-baby.She still loves bath time, especially since toys are now involved. But if you try to pour water over her head you will soon incur the wrath of Cranky Baby's even more evil twin, Screaming Baby. She lets me do goofy things with her hair, though - much to Aaron's chagrin. :)

Sunday, November 13, 2005

When did navigating the mall become an Olympic sport? The first floor Giant Slalom - between Macy's and the food court.

I went to the mall the other day to buy my daughter a Christmas outfit. I innocently thought that I could put Julia in her stroller, wheel her over to the store of my choice, buy the outfit and then leave. Silly Mommy. Now you have to do the bob and weave through a different breed of shopping - the Mall Kiosks. Ah, the good old days of the mall - popping into to different stores with little interuption. Sure, you'd occassionally run into a particularly cheeky sales person who worked for commission, but for the most part you could browse in relative peace. Now there are vendors lined down the center of the mall aisles selling everything from Tupperware to t-shirts to fake hair. Also, stuffed animals, jewelry and - get this - replacement windows! (I don't know about you but when I think of windows, I think of heading to my local mall.) And if this wasn't bad enough, now you get accosted every 5 feet by another person from one of these kiosks, like barkers in a carnival - "Ma'am, I'd like to talk to you about your cell phone plan." Or, "Ma'am could I give you this?" (Whatever "this" was!! I have no idea, I didn't give them the opportunity.)

Now, I'm constantly on the lookout - as a new Mom I guess I have a bullseye on my forehead, so I've learned to walk very fast. But I almost got caught the day we were looking for the Christmas outfit... As we were heading to the mall exit the baby chucked her toy off the side of the stroller (Shocking!). Up ahead I saw that I was spotted by a kiosk employee. I had to make a quick decision - save ourselves, leave the toy and incur the wrath of Cranky Baby or try to grab it without getting roped into a 15 minute sales pitch. This was not much of a choice, so I leaned down, swiped the toy off the floor and continued walking in one fluid motion. It was beautiful. As I sailed past I heard the man say "Ma'am, are you interested in a music CD customized with your baby's name?" Are you kidding me? But I gave him my most gracious smile and a "No, thank you" and we were outta there before he could say anymore.

We'll have to go back again, but I know what to look out for now. Swerve left around the cell phones, right around the electronic place and left again by the Christmas ornaments. But since I'm postpartum, maybe I should stop by the fake hair - I could use some!